Hydraulic Engineering

CEWB222

CHAPTER 7

(GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW)

By

Prof Dr. Ir. Lariyah Mohd. Sidek

Dr. Mohd Hafiz Zawawi
Muhammad@ump.edu.my
 Flow in Open Channel

Time
Steady Flow Unsteady Flow

Space
Uniform Flow Non Uniform Flow

Rapidly varied Flow

Gradually Varied Flow
(Hydraulic Jump)
The following classification is made according to
the change in flow depth with respect to time and space.
 Introduction
 The gradually varied flow is the steady flow which
depth varies gradually along the length of the
channel.

 This definition signifies two conditions;

 The flow is steady & the hydraulic characteristics

of flow remain constant for the time interval
under consideration

 The streamlines are practically parallel; that

hydrostatic distribution of pressure prevails over
the channel section
 The theories thus developed practically all hinge on
following assumptions:
 The head loss at a section is the same as for a uniform
flow having the velocity and hydraulic radius of the
section
• The uniform flow formula (Chezy @ Manning) may be used to
evaluate the energy slope of gradually varied flow at a given
channel section and the corresponding coefficient of
roughness developed primarily for uniform flow is applicable to
the varied flow
 The slope of the channel is small so that the depth of
flow is the same whether the vertical or normal (to a
channel bottom) direction is used
 The channel is prismatic; that is, the channel has
constant alignment and shape
 The roughness coefficient is independent of the depth
of flow and constant throughout the channel reach
under consideration
Classification of Open-Channel Flows
 Obstructions cause the flow depth to vary.
 Rapidly varied flow (RVF) occurs over a short distance
near the obstacle.
 Gradually varied flow (GVF) occurs over larger distances
and usually connects UF and RVF.
 dH

dx
 In GVF, y and V vary slowly,
and the free surface is
stable
 In contrast to uniform flow, Sf
 S0. Now, flow depth
reflects the dynamic
balance between gravity,
shear force, and inertial
effects
 To derive how the depth
varies with x, consider the
total head
Let’s evaluate H, total energy, as a
function of x.

Take derivative,

Where H = total energy head

z = elevation head,
v2/2g = velocity head
 •Given the Froude number, we can simplify and solve
for - dy/dx as a function of measurable parameters

*Note that the eqn blows up when Fr = 1 and goes to

zero if So = S, the case of uniform OCF.

where , Sf = total energy slope Sf = n2Q2 / (Rh4/3A2)

So = bed slope,
dy/dx = water surface slope Fr2 = v2/gy
 Water Surface Profile

 1. Understand what is GVF.

 2. Able to identify profile type
– M1, M2, M3, S1, S2, S3, ..
 3. Able to draw/plot water surface
profile.
Water Surface Profile Type

 Mild Slope – M1, M2, M3

 Steep Slope – S1, S2, S3
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Mild

Steep
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type

Normal Depth
M1

S1
M2

M3 S2
Mild
S3

Steep
Critical Depth
Normal Depth

Water surface not at normal depth due to obstruction or

condition either upstream or downstream
Steps in analyzing water
surface profile
 1. Draw slope
 2. Determine slope type – yn, yc, So
 3. Draw Critical Depth
 4. Draw Normal Depth
 5. Connect Normal Depth to control point.
 Based on profile type
 Mild Slope

 Cases
Simple Example
– Backwater – y above normal depth – mild slope

Normal Depth
River Level

Sea Level

Channel/River

Reservoir/Sea
Simple Example
– Backwater – y above normal depth – mild slope

Profile ?

Normal Depth
River Level

Sea Level

Channel/River

Reservoir/Sea
Simple Example
– Backwater – y above normal depth – mild slope

Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Simple Example
– Backwater – y above normal depth – mild slope

Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Simple Example
– Backwater – y above normal depth – mild slope

Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Simple Example
– Backwater – y above normal depth – mild slope

Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
 Mild Slope

 Cases
Simple Example
– Drawdown – y above normal depth – mild slope

Profile ?

Normal Depth
River Level

Sea Level

Channel/River

Reservoir/Sea
Simple Example
– Drawdown – y above normal depth – mild slope

Profile ?

Normal Depth
River Level

Sea Level

Channel/River

Reservoir/Sea
Simple Example
– Drawdown – y above normal depth – mild slope

Profile ?

Normal Depth
River Level

Sea Level
Channel/River

Reservoir/Sea
Simple Example
– Drawdown – y above normal depth – mild slope

Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Simple Example
– Drawdown – y above normal depth – mild slope

Profile ?

Control
Points

Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Simple Example
– Drawdown – y above normal depth – mild slope

Profile ?

Control
Points at yc

Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
 Mild Slope

 Cases
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Normal Depth
River Level
Steep Slope
Simple Example
– Backwater – y above normal depth – mild slope

Normal Depth
River Level
Sea Level

Channel/River

Reservoir/Sea
Normal Depth
River Level
Sea Level

Channel/River

Reservoir/Sea
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Steep Slope
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Steep Slope
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
Normal Depth
River Level

Channel/River
REVIEW
 Break in Grade

 Combination of different slope

Profile Type
Normal Depth
Normal Depth

Mild

Milder
Critical Depth

SCL: GUIDE
1. Flow moving at normal depth if
no obstruction or change of condition.
2. Connect water surface line at shortest route but connection
of route should be smooth.
3. Mild profile before change of condition/slope
4. Steep profile after change of condition/slope.
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Mild

Steep
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Mild

Steep
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Mild

Milder
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Mild

Milder
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Milder

Mild
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Milder

Mild
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type

Normal Depth

Steep

Steeper
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type: ok

Normal Depth

Steep

Steeper
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type: OK

Normal Depth

Steeper

Steep
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Profile Type: OK

Normal Depth

Steeper

Steep
Critical Depth
Normal Depth
Plot water surface profile

Control
1.745 Points at yc

Normal Depth
River Level

1.03
Review
Subcritical Flow
y
Which profile type is sub or supercritical flow
In steep and mild profile.

yc Supercritical Flow

Energy
REVIEW

Subcritical flow before obstruction and

supercritical flow after obstruction
DIRECT STEP METHOD

 Based on Energy Equation

There are several method to obtain
surface water profile. There are;

Direct Integration
Numerical Integration
Direct Step Method
Graphical Integration
Numerical/Computer Methods
Plot water surface profile

Control
1.745 Points at yc

Normal Depth
River Level

1.03
Direct step method
– The direct step method is a simple
step method applicable to prismatic
channel.
– In general, a step method is
characterized by dividing the channel
into short reaches and carrying the
computation step by step from one
end of the reach to the other.
Direct Step Method
– Equating the total head at the two end section 1 and 2, the
following may be written;

y1 + v²/2g + z1 = y2 + v²/2g + z2 + hL
E1 + (z1 - z2 ) = E2 + hL
E1 + so ∆x = E2 + sf ∆x
∆x (so - sf ) = E2 - E1
∆x = (E2 - E1 )/ (so - sf )
Where E1 = y1+v12/2g
Sf = n2Q2/(A2R4/3 ) = n2v2/R4/3
Sf = (Sf1+Sf2 )/2

Calculation dx start for Backwater is the highest side. dy/dx=+ve

Calculation dx start for Drawdown is the lowest side. dy/dx=-ve
 Procedure to use Direct Step Method
1. Find E2 for downstream control point
and given Q
2. Choose depth y1 at the upstream
point for which we want to find x
3. Find V1 and hence E1
4. Find Sf from above for V1 and V2
Compute average Sf
5. Use to find x

Muhammad@ump.edu.my
Table: Direct Step Method
1. y = water depth (m)
2. R = A/P = hydraulic radius or y for very wide
rectangular
3. v = q/y = flow velocity
5. E = y + v²/2g = specific energy
6. ∆E = E2 - E1 = energy loss
7. sf = slope energy grade line = n2v2 = v2
R4/3 C2R
8. sf1 avg = (sf1 + sf2)/2 = EGL slope average
9. (so – sf avg ) = slope different
10. ∆x = reach = ∆E / (so - sf )
11. L = length of surface water profile which is calculate
from dam
Direct Step Method
– A trapezoidal channel has bed width B=8.0m, side
slope ratio 2:1, The manning’s n is 0.025 and it is
laid on a slope 0.001. if the channels ends in a
freefall, compute the water surface profile for a
discharge of 30m3/s.
– Step1 : Find yn and yc.
– Normal depth of the flow yn=1.7538 m and
yc=1.0298m
– Step 2: Determine profile type
– M2
– Calculation from 1.0298m to 1.7538m
– Calculation from 1.03m, inc 0.01 to 1.745m
Mild: M2

yn=1.754 m

yc=1.03 m
See example in Excel:
Mild: M2

yn=1.754 m

yc=1.03 m
THANK YOU